Psalm 104:28 “when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things.”
This verse is talking about God opening His hands to satisfy us, His children. Never in the Bible does it say God’s hands are closed. Never does He make a fist. Men do. In the Bible, a fist means rebellion. Rebellion is the same as witchcraft the Bible says. That’s why God never is talked about as a fist waver. He doesn’t sin, doesn’t rebel either for that matter. I’m working with a man down here. All he would have to do is humble himself, repent, and open his hands to receive help. But he is angry at everyone and anyone who opposes him. He is suffering immensely. Everyone around him is suffering. But his pride is keeping his fists closed in rebellion. All he would have to do is open his hands and ask for help, and everything would be perfect. But he won’t so he continues to squalor in agony. Kind people are kind to themselves as well as to others. Cruel people are cruel to everyone including themselves, although they are blinded by sin, and don’t realize it.
Proverbs 11:17-18 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: But he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh. The wicked worketh a deceitful work: But to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.
Open hands means generosity, mercy and kindness among many other things that God’s open hands represent. For me, most of all, it means generosity. All good things come from Him. He loves to give, cheerfully. He loves joyous givers as well, because joyous givers are true believers that love Him and reflect Him. He doesn’t give grudgingly or dutifully. He doesn’t do background checks. He blesses us extravagantly and joyfully. Cheerfully (meaning laughing as He does). And He expects us to do the same.
2 Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
Open hands of God also means relinquishing authority and peace. Open hands not only means giving, but receiving. God gives us health, finances, wisdom, authority, peace, power and love. He doesn’t give us meanness, snippiness, snarky comments, moodiness, witty sarcasm, strife, ‘discernment, which is Christianese for a judgemental and critical spirit’, open handed slaps and other things that make us feel bad or steal our joy. That’s what Satan does. We as followers open our hands, without angst, to receive from our good and fatherly God. Nuns loved to spank the palm of the students’ hands with a ruler. Totally contrary to this word from God, actually it’s diabolical. Open hands shows trust, love and expectancy. You can reach farther with open hands than you can with a fist. So can God. Selah!
You can’t grab something if your fist is already clenched, nor can you give either. Closed fists show resentment, fear, anger, lack of transparency and rebellion. None of which have a place in a person filled with the Holy Spirit.
The fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5 is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. I hear pastors jollily tell the congregation that they lack patience, or self control. Why be jolly about it? Change! You weren’t born this way. You are reborn to bear the fruit of the Spirit. This fruit is describing God’s character as well. We have His Holy Spirit in us when we get saved (believe in our heart and confess with our mouths) and we are being conformed into His image, so we have His character and everything else including open hands IF INDEED WE ARE FOLLOWING HIM AND ARE IN FACT HIS. God is a giver. Just like a doting father, God is delighted when we’re happy.
Deuteronomy 28:12 “The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.”
An open hand in the Bible means a giving attitude. God’s hands are always open, never clinched. Throughout the Bible, Jesus followers are told to have an open hand. We are told to be generous with others because He has been generous with us. Stingy people don’t reflect Jesus. Distrustful people don’t reflect Jesus. Scared and worried people don’t reflect Jesus. Greedy people don’t reflect Jesus. The reason that they don’t reflect Jesus is because they don’t reflect love. 1 John 4:8 God is love. You don’t reflect Jesus to people by preaching at them. You reflect Jesus by truly loving on them, unconditionally.
Deuteronomy 15:8 “But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.”
God shows his love by opening His hand. He gives freely and kindly. He shows us His love by opening His hands and giving. ‘FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE’ John 3:16. People say lots of things. But if they don’t give, that says a lot more. Not giving money necessarily. Time. Attention. Interest. Patience. Kindness. Gentle answers, etc. are all things anyone can give. Put it this way, if your pastor can’t answer a simple text, or answer without being snide or sarcastic, he doesn’t love you. Leave! Do not trust him with your soul. Find a loving church. He definitely doesn’t reflect Jesus. Who needs a ‘pastor’ that won’t lead you to Jesus by his example? Billions of ‘pastors’ out there, find one that truly loves like Jesus loves, with an open hand.
Psalm 145:16 Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.
Very rarely does giving have anything to do with money. What true followers of Jesus should give is exactly what a merely religious person cannot give. Giving such things unconditionally as time, patience, kindness, gentleness and most importantly love is the mark of a true believer. I have ‘friends’ I truly hesitate to text, call, or email because I never know who’s going to show up when I knock on their door (moodiness). I work with children who have real problems. I don’t have time for Mr. Entitled Grumpy who got up on the wrong side of his comfortable bed this morning, and decides to be irritable.
Either you are a consistent follower of Jesus or you aren’t. Either you evaluate your actions, your tone, your priorities by WWJD? or you really don’t care. Either you are a follower of Jesus Christ or you aren’t. Either you’re a believer or an unbeliever. Either you’re saved or unsaved. Either you love unconditionally or you don’t care about anyone outside of your immediate family and small circle of friends. Either you’re going to heaven or hell when you die.
It really isn’t rocket science. It has nothing to do with perfect Sunday school attendance, your saintly singing or prayer voice, a trim figure, a pretty face, a church pew with your name on it, church membership or even your position in a church. If you follow Jesus you give, with open hands, cheerfully, freely and kindly. If you don’t, you won’t, without an audience that is. Paul boldly said it best, it kind of startles me to this day, but all of us who truly believe should be able to say this.
1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.